WATCH: Shilo Sanders gets disqualified after controversial targeting penalty vs. UCLA

On Saturday, the Buffaloes suffered a defeat against the UCLA Bruins.

WATCH: Shilo Sanders gets disqualified after controversial targeting penalty vs. UCLA

Shilo Sanders was ejected for this hit (Images via Fox College Football/ X)

On Saturday, the Colorado Buffaloes, led by their star quarterback Shedeur Sanders, went against their Pac-12 conference rivals, the UCLA Bruins, in an exciting college football matchup. During the game, Colorado’s star player and head coach Deion Sanders‘ son, Shilo Sanders, was ejected due to a controversial penalty.

During the second quarter of the game, the Bruins had a one-point lead and were facing a crucial 2nd down and 7 from the Buffaloes’ 28-yard line. UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers, who received the snap from the shotgun position, completed a pass to running back Carsen Ryan.

YouTube video

Ryan tried to gain some yards after the catch but was met with a hard hit from Shilo Sanders soon after he completed the catch. While Sanders celebrated the hard hit, the referee threw the yellow flag and called a penalty on Sanders for targeting. Sanders was eventually ejected from the game since the referees confirmed the targeting penalty after seeing a TV review. Check out the footage of the hit below.

FS Video

Sanders was having a great game against the Bruins on Saturday. Earlier in the game, he forced a fumble and was making key tackles in the Buffaloes’ secondary unit. But, he was taken out of the game for targeting in the second half. 

While seeing the reply of the hit in question, it seems like the refs took issue with the helmet-to-helmet contact during the tackle. The NCAA defines targeting as: 

Forcible contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent with the helmet, forearm, hand, fist, elbow or shoulder.

Even though Sanders led only with his shoulder, the Buffaloes’ defensive back did make helmet-to-helmet contact with a defenseless receiver during the hit. Nonetheless, Shilo Sanders’ rejection from the game caused a massive controversy on social media as fans debated the penalty.

Colorado Buffaloes struggled a lot on Sunday after Shilo Sanders’ ejection

Following defensive back Shilo Sanders’ ejection from the game on Saturday, the Colorado Buffaloes struggled to stay in the contest with the No. 23-ranked UCLA Bruins. 

Shilo Sanders targeting ejected
Shilo Sanders (Via SI)

As a result, the Bruins managed to secure a convincing 28-16 victory against their conference rivals on Saturday. With that victory, UCLA improved to a 6-2 record.

On the other hand, Colorado fell to an ugly record of 4 wins and 4 losses. Next, Colorado has a tougher game ahead as they are scheduled to face the No. 11-ranked Oregon State Beavers in another Pac-12 matchup next weekend. 

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